"Wanted-Custom Made Adirondack Chairs" He says.

[CNYDWW]

I've been in an email and phone discussion with a gentleman and his wife about some custom Adirondack chairs. I had answered an add on Craigslist.org. They wanted 8 in total and also wanted them made from exterior grade PVC. I very cordially explained that the material wasn't suited for the application and offered to find a suitable alternative that would actually work well for the project. Before I had the chance to even research materials, I get a call back and it's his wife. She was very sharp with me and says. "We've found someone who know's what they're doing and is going to make what WE want. You don't NEED to use thicker stuff OR something different." *Click*

I say you and your husband enjoy those chairs for about a week if that.
I had suggested that using stock 3/4" PVC/EPVC trim board just wasn't going to hold up whatsoever. This was the first time i've personally run into a customer that was this rude. I hope they get exactly what they want. Any opinions?

Regards
Randy

[Brady Watson]

Are really you surprised at the outcome? Unqualified leads or solicitations from CL are nothing but trouble. Focus on business to business sales. There is plenty of work to be had, regardless of the nonsense you hear coming out of the radio & tv. The thing is, you gotta let these companies know you're around and CL isn't the proper vehicle for doing this.

Personally, I refuse to deal with 'residential' customers. If you are not a business, then chances are your expectations will be really high & your budget really low. There are few exceptions. Ask yourself WHO your customer IS or who you WANT your customer to be...Aim high and you might be suprised who comes knocking at your door.

Oh...and be thankful that they called back and are not your customer. If they act this way now, how are they going to act later? One perspective is that this was a nice reminder to get yourself back on track to get the right customer for your business...

-B

[planman]

Randy,

I has been my experience that in the long run everyone gets EXACTLY what they deserve. Some folks just take longer than others to get what's coming.

Stick to your values. I don't make junk. I do not compete with overseas junk and I do not plan on making domestic junk.

Let that sales lead be someone else's headache. Enjoy a nice afternoon fishing or enjoy a cold beer under a shady tree instead of making the **** they are requesting.

Fishing and relaxing feel much better than compromising your values every single time.

Don't worry. They will learn... the hard way.

Peace be with you!

[gerryv]

Many years ago when I was just starting out as an adult I commented to a much older (maybe even over 40!) fellow worker how much I disliked working/dealing with stupid people that thought they were smart.

He responded that I should actually like them because they made my life easier... I said he was nuts. That's when he said, "imagine how much harder it would be for you and I to make it if everyone was as smart as us."

[gene]

There is a man , Ed Connley in canton Ga, (n Atlanta ) That makes them. AHA Woodworks . check out his site .. They have a great warrantee . also he is a fellow shopbotter. You mention that the customer was rude , take it as a blessing. I just had to pull a set of cabinets (8400.00) back out because there was no pleasing them PERIOD. I offered them everything possible and there was no winning no matter what i did. Lesson learned a better contract and they must sign off on the color they pick!

[CNYDWW]

Thanks to everyone.

I know CL isn't a good place to "shop" for customers. I gave it a shot and can usually sort out those that can't be pleased. Most of them take one look at my long graying beard and tattoos and turn their nose up. I do have a few commercial customers that stuck with me even though my shop had been down for so long. I do have another customer that brings me quite a lot of work but i let him handle it. I just do the carving/milling. He's a bit of a hack but does at least have real expectations of costs. My post was more venting at the rudeness. If you're stupid, fine. If you want to have someone else mess it up, fine. Just don't think i'm not gonna sit and laugh over a few shots of Whiskey tonight at the fire pit or a few beers at the first 3D archery shoot of the season this weekend.

[CNYDWW]

There is a man , Ed Connley in canton Ga, (n Atlanta ) That makes them. AHA Woodworks . check out his site .. They have a great warrantee . also he is a fellow shopbotter. You mention that the customer was rude , take it as a blessing. I just had to pull a set of cabinets (8400.00) back out because there was no pleasing them PERIOD. I offered them everything possible and there was no winning no matter what i did. Lesson learned a better contract and they must sign off on the color they pick!

Gene,

I've been to his sight before and i know he doesn't use the type of EPVC i get up here. I know for a fact this material wont hold up and i've been asked to make them before and refused. As far as Adirondack chains and associated furniture. I've made hundreds up this way. From everything from composite decking to luan. Even oak which were meant for an enclosed sun porch that would never see rain.

Regards'
Randy

[bruce_taylor]

You can't be everything to everybody! I feel very blessed to not have to deal with these types of people. I tend to deal with a bunch of great customers and have had very few issues. I try to do a great job and delivery good value. When I was younger and hungry I thought price was important and always tried to do it as cheap as possible, I learned over time that brought me the clients that wanted it cheap,or for nothing if they could beat me out of a nickel, As I grew I started pricing it based on what it cost to provide a better product and great service, The pita guys went somewhere else and the people who wanted what I provide stayed true, some for many years now. I now get to do things on my terms for great people and enjoy my business for the most part. I am not the cheapest guy because those pita people need somewhere to go that isn't with me. I don't mind going out of my way for my clients and I don't want to take advantage of anybody just take care of my family, When someone is like that to me I just take it in stride and am thankful I don't have to take that job. WHEW!! I got a little long winded but thats how I feel!!!

[Brian Harnett]

I deal with the public a lot, I pick and choose custom work very carefully and still a lot of times lose my shirt.

Working with other professional shops is great and way more profitable for me.

[myxpykalix]

Well if I were you I would have given them a price and made it exactly the way they wanted, gone down and cashed their check and given them a 30 minute warranty:eek:

The best thing to do with people like that is let them go elsewhere. I on the otherhand have had decent transactions of CL. You can learn to weed out the douchebags who want something for nothing.

[gundog]

Well if I were you I would have given them a price and made it exactly the way they wanted, gone down and cashed their check and given them a 30 minute warranty:eek:

The best thing to do with people like that is let them go elsewhere. I on the otherhand have had decent transactions of CL. You can learn to weed out the douchebags who want something for nothing.

I disagree with that philosophy if I don't think the product will work up to the customers expectations I refuse the work. I have a great reputation and it is built on word of mouth if I build an inferior product for a boat and that guy sells his boat to someone else my logo stickers are attached the next guy will figure my stuff is ****. If I am not proud of the product it does not leave the shop period.

I can't compete with China on price so my stuff has to be much better quality to warrant the higher price. Most of my stuff carries a lifetime warranty and the only way to make that work is to build stuff that lasts a lifetime.

Mike

[MogulTx]

The customer can have whatever they want. They just can't always get it from me!!!

You did well NOT to have these folks on your customer list.

MGM

[myxpykalix]

Michael... I guess i used the wrong icon, i meant to use the sarcastic:rolleyes:
icon. However sometimes you have to give the customer exactly what they want and then let them come back so you can tell them "I told you so..."

But like you say it's better to let them go elsewhere:D

[CNYDWW]

The customer can have whatever they want. They just can't always get it from me!!!

You did well NOT to have these folks on your customer list.

MGM

Well if they're that rude to me apparently they're looking for one size 13E (extrawide) timberland.

[bleeth]

I had a mother/son team show up at my custom shop one time who wanted a wall unit built out of cherry. They walk in and she says "Where's the cherry?" Sounded like "Where's the beef?" When I explained that we purchased specific wood for each project and ensured that the wood for each was both sufficient in quality and amount and storing lumber was a lumber yards job they looked at me and said "You don't know what you are talking about." After a few more minutes of such silly comments I took it as another reminder that you can cure ignorance but not stupidity and told them they would undoubtedly be more comfortable with a different shop.

[myxpykalix]

they would undoubtedly be more comfortable with a different shop
C'mon Dave...Were you that diplomatic or was it more like...

Get the H*ll out of my shop! :eek:

I know what I would have said. Or maybe you said one thing, but thought another? I know how you feel:)

[gene]

Michael , Thats the reason i pulled the set of cabinets. You can please 100 people and they might tell 10 people. You do 1 bad job and they will tell 1000 people.

Randy , I'm down in the south , we still sit on 5 gal buckets and drink beer.:D

[CNYDWW]

Michael , Thats the reason i pulled the set of cabinets. You can please 100 people and they might tell 10 people. You do 1 bad job and they will tell 1000 people.

Randy , I'm down in the south , we still sit on 5 gal buckets and drink beer.:D

We do that up here too. Sometimes in the haylofts or out in the orchard. Half the time covered in mud from the wheelers runnin through the valley. I'm not in THAT part of ny. :D

P.S. Considering a move down south if i can afford it.

[harryball]

Welcome to my world :) We have some of the best cutomers in the world... and a few of the worst. By in far, most of our customers are great. But we get the select few that want to argue with me about the material, the design, how I should build bat houses, how our houses cost too much, why we should be using thicker/thiner/different material AND how they'll just build one themselves... Doesn't bother me anymore. I have some fairly standardized responses now. "Well, if you want the best I'll be happy to sell you a bat house, otherwise I won't be able to help you" "If you can build a better bat house and sell it for less and stay in business you need to start with a good business plan..." "I can tell you've really thought this out and have a good idea of what you want, I hope it works out for you."

They did you a couple of favors. 1) stopped your research and pricing work which would have been wasted effort. 2) prevented you from doing business with them which you would have come to regret.

Just let it slide right off, don't dwell on it, don't get mad or abusive with them. Smile and just imagine them falling on the ground in a collapsed mass of crappy PVC in about a year.

/RB

[MarkPrescott]

Hi Guys, I thought this might amuse you, he is one of my favorites. All you have to do is point to the picture.

[MarkPrescott]

Well that's embarrassing , I guess I proved my own point. I forgot the picture.

[CNYDWW]

Well that's embarrassing , I guess I proved my own point. I forgot the picture.

you can go back and edit the post and add the pic instead of reposting. Now this isn't stupidity. just a learning experience.

[myxpykalix]

Mark,
It's not embarrassing, however it is "ironic"...:rolleyes: welcome :D

[tuck]

I keep a CL ad going for CNC services and have had limited success, including one nice seasonal gig for college football logos cut from printed 1/2" Ultraboard. http://www.stukups.com/Default.asp But by and large, most folks that call are just kicking tires, have no idea what a vector file is, want a price for something they can barely describe, and can waste a lot of your time and effort if you let them.

The best thing about a CL ad is that it's free.

Edit to ask Randy: Why doesn't the rude customer just go to Home Depot and buy some of them injection-molded plastic Adirondack chairs, lol! They are cheap, come in garish colors, and should be right up her alley! :)